Sexual violence concepts launched online are spilling into the real world – harming women and young men and overwhelming counselors
Spurred by #MeToo backlash and post-COVID loneliness, online influencers have built social media networks that give young men and boys a sense of belonging through promulgating misogyny.
Manosphere online forums and websites fuel a common theme of advocating sexual violence against women, with key figures like Andrew Tate facing multiple charges of rape and sex trafficking in various countries. Tate, and others like him, represent the leading edge of this ideology that has been migrating to mainstream platforms such as YouTube and TikTok, where young men and boys are rapidly exposed to this content upon joining.
The manosphere, a loosely connected network of online spaces united by beliefs in male supremacy, is growing rapidly due to backlash against the #MeToo movement and increased isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly half of U.S. women have experienced unwanted sexual contact in their lives, and 1 in 5 have faced attempted rape or rape.
Some nations are beginning to take action to curb sexually violent content online, such as the U.K.'s 2026 guidelines for social media companies to reduce the spread of misogynistic and sexually violent content to young men and boys. However, U.S. legislative efforts have not kept pace with the evolution of these issues. The manosphere poses a significant challenge to violence prevention specialists, as they struggle to engage men and boys and keep up with the constantly evolving landscape of online messaging.
The issue extends beyond extreme figures like Tate, as countless individuals disseminate misinformation and hateful content about women through various topics, making it difficult to differentiate harmful speech from seemingly innocuous conversations. Online misogyny influencer culture is finding its way into everyday life, providing fertile ground for the spread of disparaging comments about women.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
